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Sunday, April 15, 2012

Sens 3, Rangers 2 (OT): Hagelin hearing slated

A disciplinary hearing for Rangers rookie Carl Hagelin has been scheduled for this afternoon after he delivered a high elbow to the head of Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson and drew a five-minute major at 10:32 of the second period. Dare we say it, a Swede-on-Swede crime?

Coach John Tortorella’s only comment on the play was that he didn’t expect Hagelin to be suspended but, if he is, then Ottawa defenseman Chris Phillips deserves to be suspended as well for his high hit on Rangers captain Ryan Callahan.

So here’s what needs to be followed up tomorrow:
- Hagelin suspension?
- Matt Carkner suspension for assaulting Brian Boyle at 2:15 of the first period?
- Supplemental discipline for Brandon Dubinsky for being the third man in and earning a game misconduct?
- Any supplemental discipline for the coaches? (Granted, the last two are not likely at all and Carkner probably won’t be further disciplined either).
- Did Alfredsson suffer another concussion at the hands of the Rangers? Remember, it was ex-Ranger Wojtek Wolski’s high hit on Oct. 29 in the first game between the teams this season that caused Alfredsson to miss five games with concussion symptoms.

Rangers coach John Tortorella said if Hagelin was suspended, then Senators defenseman Chris Phillips should be, too, for a high hit on Rangers captain Ryan Callahan.

“The refs called it five so it’s a five,” Hagelin said. “I’m not 100 percent sure [how high the hit was] to be honest. I was just focusing on finishing my check.”

Meanwhile, Senators coach Paul MacLean wouldn’t comment when asked if he thought Carkner might face supplementary discipline after earning a game misconduct for punching Brian Boyle while he was on the ice.

Senators All-Star defenseman Erik Karlsson scored a goal on a game-high 10 shots in 30:06 after the Rangers essentially stymied him in Game 1 by taking away his skating space.

“I think everybody kind of left the first game behind them,” said Karlsson, a Norris Trophy candidate after compiling 19 goals and 59 assists. “We wanted to come out this game a completely different team.”

Tortorella said he was pleased with how Brandon Dubinsky responded to Carkner’s assault on Boyle. Dubinsky earned a game misconduct.

The Rangers have now lost six straight playoff overtime games dating to the conference semifinals in 2007.

Senators coach Paul MacLean did not have an update on Alfredsson’s condition.

Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh was OK after taking a puck directly to the groin on the winning goal.

Prized prospect Chris Kreider remained a healthy scratch after signing his entry-level contract on Wednesday. Kreider may be making his NHL debut in Game 3 if Hagelin is suspended. Unless, of course, Tortorella decides to put in enforcer John Scott.

In general, the Rangers thought they played a decent game. What bothered them was playing too much on their heels as they tried to protect a 2-1 lead.

“There’s always a natural tendency when you end up defending,” Tortorella said. “I thought we could have made some plays to try and keep some puck possession but that’s what happens when you get into a little bit of that.”

“We were trying to protect the lead,” defenseman Marc Staal added. “We had a few good shifts where we were in their end zone but, for the most part, we were trying to stop them from scoring and we were doing a little too much backing up and not enough forechecking.”

Brad Richards had the same opinion.

“We were leading with whatever left and we just started playing on our heels a little bit, retreating,” Richards said. “they started coming down the ice with speed.

“Every team that makes the playoffs now can definitely win games,” Richards added. “This isn’t something we weren’t prepared for. We wanted to win tonight, we wanted a 2-0 lead going back to them but we’re going to have to win games there. We have to take the good and learn from the bad.”

Posted by Andrew Gross on 04/15 at 05:12 AM

damn right phillips should be suspended if hagelin is. the fact that we did not get any word on a hearing for him, but hagelin has one scheduled is atrocious and a bad sign for this team…though can anybody really admit that they didn’t expect it? seems nobody can get suspended for anything against us this season and it really sucks.

Posted by mikael on 04/15 at 05:39 AM

on the plus side- i’m really glad mcdonagh is okay^ nobody that we have can replace him the way that he has been playing. kreider has a similar speed and hopefully does what hagelin did

Posted by mikael on 04/15 at 05:47 AM

once the Rangers went up 2-1 Tortaschmuck just decided that was it and all they would do defend the lead. How do coaches like that still even have jobs in NHL?

What idiot fans want to watch their team sit on 1 goal lead and just defend wave after wave of opposing teams offense.

We need to fire this dumbass and his lameduck system. They go up 1 goal and it is like watching my team in front of a firing squad, because I and pretty much anybody that paid any attention knows that this team is done trying to score more goals, they are in strictly defense and icing the puck mode.

Sickening, disgusting, embarrassing system.

NHL is becoming a joke as well. the Weber non suspension. These scumbag refs. The Dubinsky game miscunduc a minute into the game. If Hagelin is suspended, and Carkner isn’t that would really be funny.

Posted by Tortaturd on 04/15 at 05:49 AM

When will we finally pick the right coach?

Everybody’s favorite Tortorella is 8-17 in the playoffs since 2004.

He was only 5-6 before 2004 this guy is a walking definition of a fluke.

Posted by Tortaturd on 04/15 at 05:59 AM

We all know what is happening. Hagelin is getting suspended for finishing a hit high while Weber and Carkner are not getting suspended for slamming a player’s head into the glass with 1 second left in a game and throwing a sucker punch and then pounding the player that is down.

How is what Dubinsky did different than 95% of the scuffles in the game today where 1 player will unload on another player and the team will come in? You never see it called.

It’s a shame that with the some of the greatest talent ever in the league that a huge number of games are decided in large part by the refs, and that so many games are almost unwatchable because of the officiating. This game wasn’t even as bad as most aside from the Dubinsky call; it’s just that the majority of games are horribly officiated.

The NHL is desperately trying to become the NBA, but the only gains I see them making in that regard is having horrible refs that make every game get close at the end, and play a heavy role in deciding most games. I don’t see either of these as positives.

Oh year, and interference on forecheckers is back to about the same level as before the lockout.

Posted by desack on 04/15 at 07:06 AM

I checked back and Prust being taken off Boyle’s line based on the starting lineup seemed to start 2-3 games before Boyle started getting hot (last 9 games of regular season).

I love Prust for what he’s good at but felt lots of times this year that he was keeping that line from being more productive.

Hopefully Boyle gets pegged into a line next year with more skilled players from the beginning and maybe his production from last year returns and sticks around.

Posted by MikeF on 04/15 at 07:20 AM

Yeah, Torts and his system are horrible. Horrible enough for the Rangers end up in 1st place in the Eastern Conference while playing in the toughest division in the NHL with a young team that isn’t exactly overflowing with superstars (outside of Lundqvist and Gaborik). Settle down, bro. It’s one OT loss.

Posted by oldtymer on 04/15 at 07:22 AM

What makes this particularly frustrating is the fact that, in an early admission and realization that they can’t beat us, Ottawa resorted to goon tactics….and they clearly paid off. That was quite clear once Rangers failed to score, or even generate any significant pressure, on the major to Carkner. We had lost an important player; they lost a goon who’d played all of 29 games this season. Gotta cash in there.

Trying to sit on that lead in the third was in contrast to the way they pressed the attack with a a bigger lead in the first game. So I was surprised about that. Seemed only a matter of time that they actually scored a goal as opposed to us kicking it in ourselves. Don’t really know what MDZ was thinking there. Still, didn’t see anything to make me think we’re not clearly the better team and that we’re not losing four games to these a-holes. (Though a Hagelin suspension would be a blow…get the feeling that the league has learned that Alfredson is concussed and that he’s gonna get a game. Kreider time?)

Posted by alan on 04/15 at 11:55 AM

Frustration with the rules/suspensions/refs is the lack of consistancy and fairness. Always has been. What tilts the tables more in a game like last night is we have no power play. We have no advantage. 5 minutes of nothing when we should score at least 1. Our opposition can take liberties when our power play sucks, this has been discussed since Jagr was here.

We missed Dubinsky’s forecheck, control of the puck in the offensive zone. I look for us to rebound in game 3. Frustrating loss, we know we are the better team. Hank played well. Still not sold on our ‘D’.

Posted by BMac on 04/15 at 01:18 PM

Just want to point out that Ottawa’s “goon tactics” were clearly in response to what Boyle did to Karlsson in Game 1. I understand that it sucks to see a “goon” from the other team start pounding on one of your regular players but there has to be some accountability for Boyle’s actions on their top player in Game 1. I’d rather see Ottawa respond like that (attack the guy they had an issue with) rather than respond by taking a cheap shot at one of the Rangers elite players (i.e. Gaborik, etc.).

Posted by tyler on 04/15 at 01:44 PM

anyone have a video of what boyle did to karlsson? i remember some smearing and that’s basically it.

and what about folingo crashing our goalie, and chasing callahan and stepan with slashes MULTIPLE times in game 1 or is that okay??(before boyle did jack shit to anybody)

our guys are fair game, but ottawa isn’t? are you joking?

our captain is fair game, but ottawa’s isn’t?

apparently the league thinks so.. so i guess it must be right—no sign of a disciplinary hearing for phillips yet… word is carkner is going in at noon.

More like he gave him some noogies. Please, this was really a non-event that the Senators elevated into motivation with little else to build on after a game in which the Rangers showed their dominance. Nice job there by MacLean, but superior talent and teamwork will win out in the end.

Posted by alan on 04/15 at 04:07 PM

Phillips on Cally looked pretty similar to the reason Bitz got 2 games

Hypocrite league

Maybe if cally was hurt it would get looked at

Posted by Craig on 04/15 at 04:37 PM

league does not make sense when judging rangers events (or pittsburgh to the complete polar opposite extent)

thanks for the link there buddy! turns out my flash player was out of date. didn’t work for me before.

Posted by mikael on 04/15 at 04:52 PM

Cally had a target on him Richards was muggedseveral tmes with no calls.The shit that went on in front of Hank was rediculous and nothing called.Do you see a pattern here.Refs and Tort’s bad choice at the end cost us the game.But I must say we had several chances to put a stake through there hearts and didn’t .The 5 min no power play Cally all alone in front what seemed like forever and he shoots it right into him.Lets face it the team over all still stuggles to put it in the net.With there talent it is very confusing….

Posted by VinceA on 04/15 at 04:57 PM

lol dubinsky is gonna f**k s**t up tomorrow. i see him coming in, busting some skulls and getting some points. i just watched the boyle incident again and dubi is NOT done. i could care less what else happens tomorrow. i’m looking forward to seeing the old dubi in tomorrow to handle some business.

i hate to be a homer, but he looks like he’s ready to bust somebody’s skull in.

just his attitude going from the penalty box and off the ice. i have not been so sure of anything all season, but dubi is breaking out tomorrow and playing some hockey.

so glad he stepped in—even slightly glad that he got called(though it probably ran us the game) because he was stepping his game up already and now he’s got a spark to keep it going.

dubinsky/kreider/boyle? or does dubinsky or kreider move up?

lines are going to be so tough tomorrow if haggy is out

Posted by mikael on 04/15 at 05:54 PM

If you have seen most of the Rangers games this year you know that their losses were overwhelmingly to teams that are fast and forecheck relentlessly. That is what Ottawa did in this game. I am not sure they can do it every game, but Tort needs to adjust. I am not sure all the Rangers are capable of playing under such relentless pressure. But I still think they will win the series.

Both Ottawa goals were bad mistakes by the Rangers. Staal can not be left to cover three Senators in front of Hank. Hagelin got caught up the ice, Gaborik didn’t speed back, and Richards tried to break up the play in the neutral zone. Contrary to bob, they needed to actually play more conservatively on that shift. You cannot attack relentlessly in the playoffs. Ask Washington about that and how far it got them the last few years.

I also don’t know why Bickel and Rupp only got three minutes in a nasty game. Is Bickel overwhelmed? Didn’t seem like it to me. I would play Scott in the next game.

Karlsson must have had 15 shots. Hot damn!

In the first period, one Senator defensemen went back to retrieve the puck behind his goal and turned away from the puck to avoid a hit. The Rangers pounding there defensemen seemed to be working.

i know you’re anti mitchell.
didnt mitchell win the faceoff on the 1st ranger goal-see the faceoff about 30 secs before the goal

he played well - unfortunately torts still only gave him 4 1/2 min

like i said in previous threads - experimenting in april is not a good idea. and kreider in unless there is an injury is experimenting. the guy had what 2 practices.

Posted by JJ on 04/15 at 06:38 PM

anybody else notice stall watch gabby get crossed check from behind right in front of ranger bench…..he is way to soft for me - hope he is elsewhere next year.

Posted by Blue on 04/15 at 06:52 PM

JJ - I PERSONALLY think that Mitchell has been fine lately, but he doesn’t bring anything special to the table other than being fine. (I mean Deveaux didn’t hurt us either—and I certainly don’t want him up right now)

If Hagelin is suspended then I think the safest guy to go with right now is Kreider. Even with no NHL experience, he beats John Scott… and who knows? Maybe he’ll work out and be worth keeping up..

As for Dubinsky it’s kind of just wishful thinking. The guy has been livening up lately, and maybe the ejection is just what he needed to push him over the edge. I’m pulling for him because honestly we could use something big right now. We have to win one of the next two. Coming back to NY 1-3 is a scary thought.

He had a gleam in his eye throwing a tantrum on his way off. The high energy hockey suits him, and maybe his shitty season left him with a full tank to come in and cause some damage…

It’s certainly not mortgage betting good, but I like the odds tomorrow if he does come in better than he has been over this season. He’s been playing like he’s depressed all season. Being pissed is probably a whole lot better.

Blue—our stars got run over all night and nobody did anything(especially the refs)

Moab- I don’t think Tortorella wanted us to buy into their game. Bad move on his end. Probably his worst coached game of the season.

JJ again—Mitchell isn’t getting many minutes (though last night he may have played more). Neither is Rupp… Given an option between Kreider playing 3 minutes a night and Rupp (or Mitchell), I’d rather see the three out of Kreider. Rupp has been soft.

If I thought Torts wasn’t so biased, I’d say throw out Rupp and bring in Kreider since Rupp basically does nothing but yap.

idk what’ll happen, but tomorrow night is going to be extremely important. their building… likely missing their captain(unless he is faking til the hearing finishes), possibly missing one of our arguably top 4 forwards. (stepan, gaborik, richards, hagelin) and a whole lot of bad blood.

PS: sounds like hagelin’s getting suspended based on twitter… he said he couldn’t talk about it but said whatever happened he had to face it… so hmmm

Posted by mikael on 04/15 at 07:52 PM

mikael - re mitchell i am surprised torts kept his minutes so low. he played well last night and had big role in 1st ranger goal- is he a superstar NO. but he was helpful last night and would have been more so with more minutes. bad job by torts in keeping him under 5 minutes

re hagelin - i think he will get suspended 1 game - and don’t think alfredsson was faking. he didn’t play at all after. i hope hagelin does not get suspended they need him
- if he is suspended you’ll get your wish and kreider will be in. i can’t even imagine scott in there.

re rupp - i think he’s hurt and if anyone should be sitting because of that its him

re number 17. they definitely missed him on the pk and defensively. just like the rangers missed betts when brashear killed him a few yrs ago. this team is lacking in depth and lacking in players torts trusts with more than 5 minutes.

Posted by JJ on 04/15 at 08:28 PM

Mitchell had some quality power play time last night, made some nice plays in the corner getting the puck out to the point. Also looking for a dynamic effort out of Dubi tomorrow night. We’ll need it because I agree that Hagelin will get a game, even though I think that’s ridiculous given past rulings that take a player’s history into account….among other things.

Posted by alan on 04/15 at 09:12 PM

torts just needs to trust the guys more. we’re going to get really tired if we have any double overtimes this post season… girardi playing 60 minutes…...

This suspense is killer.

I hope Alf is alright. It would suck if this team lead to two concussions for him in the same season. Regardless of what happens to Hagelin I think that’s his biggest concern, followed by letting down the team last night, but nobody wants to injure someone. (well… maybe cooke/orpik does)

dubinsky’s def not a 4 mill player this season, but definitely a noticeable loss… kind of glad we didn’t dump him off at the deadline.(nash’s contract scares me)

i was doing some thinking today, imagine next season:
staal/girardi
mcdonagh/schultz(would be an awesome acquisition)
del zotto/sauer(health tentative)
bickel for depth

we probably have the best defensive core in the league (and it’s all young!) imagine filling another right handed defender that skates like mcdonagh with a developed offensive game… BEAST

Posted by mikael on 04/15 at 10:07 PM

Mickey:

If y’wanna get really excited by a talent group, watch the young Flyer forwards.

And if your love of crushed skulls is genuine, be a man: find a vise, put your head in it, and get to turning. Stop asking others to provide your thrills.

About

ANDREW GROSS covers the New York Rangers for The Record and Herald News, having joined the North Jersey Media Group in November 2007. Gross also covered the Rangers and New York Jets, as well as St. John’s basketball and Army football, for Gannett Newspapers and The Journal News (N.Y.). He graduated from Syracuse University in 1989 with a degree in newspaper journalism.